Part-time Undergraduate Course Development Assistant

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Dr. Dave Fusco in IST is seeking applicants for part-time job of Undergraduate Course Development Assistant (CDA). The Undergraduate CDA will support automated course content generation by transforming educational materials into HAX-based learning sites using command-line tools and AI assistance. This is an excellent opportunity for a student interested in educational technology, web development, and learning to work at the intersection of content creation and platform development.

Job duties to include:

Convert course materials from markdown and other formats into HAX sites using CLI tools Work with HAX command-line interface to generate and deploy educational content Conduct quality assurance on generated sites to ensure proper content display and functionality Learn and apply AI prompting techniques to optimize CLI-based content generation Collaborate with HAX platform developers (Bryan Ollendyke) for technical guidance Document standardized processes for content-to-site generation workflows Test and provide UX feedback on generated learning materials

Requirements:

Current Penn State undergraduate student Basic familiarity with command-line/terminal usage Strong attention to detail and quality control mindset Willingness to learn new technical tools and workflows Good communication skills for collaboration

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with markdown or web content formats Exposure to AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Warp, etc.) Interest in educational technology or instructional design Familiarity with HAX platform (not required - training provided) Basic understanding of UI/UX principles

Special Note:

This position will involve coordination with the HAX development team. The student will report to Dr. Fusco for payment and primary supervision, but will work closely with Bryan Ollendyke for technical guidance on HAX-specific tasks.

Schedule:

Estimated 8-10 hours/week May 2026 - June 2026

Compensation:

The starting rate for this job is $14/hr.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

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